WA is spending more to attract more skilled tradies from interstate and overseas. Photo: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
The WA Government will spend an extra $37.5 million to train more trade apprentices as well as attract more skilled tradies, including from overseas.
The government says the decision to spend more is built on the success of its Build a Life in WA and construction visa subsidy schemes.
WA Premier Roger Cook says the success of the program is thrilling.
“Our budget commitment enables us to make a further 1100 places available from July 1 and I’m sure they will be snapped up,” he says.
WA Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says their booming economy needs a skilled workforce to meet demand across different sectors.
“To build this workforce, we’re investing in training … for tomorrow while attracting job-ready tradies for … today,” she says.
“We’re investing in training and TAFE, holding course fees at 2025 levels, adding fee-free TAFE places in construction-related courses and ensuring students receive practical training.”
Housing and Works Minister John Carey says they are “doing everything” they can to boost housing stock, including new ways to increase the construction workforce.
NEW FUNDING
- $25.2m for the GTO Wage Subsidy program.
- $12.3m to extend the Build a Life in WA and Construction Visa Subsidy programs.
- $10m-plus for building and construction employers to sponsor skilled migrants.
An extra $12.3m will be spent to extend programs that have already attracted 1019 claims from skilled tradies interstate and from New Zealand.
Under the Build a Life incentive, bonuses of up to $10,000 are paid to eligible tradies to make the move; the government says most claims have come from New Zealand, NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
Government says that of the 1019 claims, 361 tradies received their first payment of $5000 and have started work; of these, 220 are from New Zealand.
The top five occupations filled under this program have been electricians, carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers and earthmoving plant operators with 43 out of 301 businesses having employed more than one skilled tradie.
The WA Government says it will extend its visa subsidy program for the third time due to strong demand.
Under the program, businesses can receive up to $10,000 to offset costs such as migration agent fees, visa application fees and relocation expenses.
To date, 849 of 1619 skilled migrant tradies under the program have started work at 364 businesses. Their skills cover carpentry, electrical services, plastering, cabinet making, glazing, bricklaying, civil engineering, surveying, construction estimating and landscaping.
The state budget includes $25.2m to expand the Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy Program which helps small and medium construction businesses to cover the wages for an apprentice or trainee.
This latest funding should create an extra 225 apprentices or trainees and will fund 150 places at 75% subsidy and 75 places at 100%, government says.
